All tag results for benjamin carver

Two Staten Island men, 21-year-old Matthew Francis, and 17-year-old Christopher Orlandoattacked 34-year old Benjamin Carver in the restroom of NYC's Stonewall Inn, which is known as the birthplace of the gay rights movement.

The men demanded that Carver tell them if they were in a gay bar, and then they insulted him and attacked him. Fortunately, he was able to defend himself.

Here's what Carver had to say about it:

"To so many of these bullies, they think that gay people are an easy target, and that we're just going to give in. Those two guys found out that night that's not the case."

"If you've ever been bullied or attacked, then fight back with all you have. Don't let them win."

We would certainly recommend avoiding violence whenever possible, but it's certainly important to defend yourself, and we think Carver is amazing for not allowing himself to be quietly victimized!

Here's what City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who is a lesbian herself, had to say about the incident which took place around the corner near her home:

"Obviously anytime a hate crime happens it's incredibly upsetting but to have two anti-gay incidents happen so close together both time and geography in neighborhoods that have large gay populations it's extremely upsetting and outrageous. It is hard to imagine what someone could be possibly be thinking being in the Stonewall bar and committing an anti-gay crime. It really shows a depth of confidence in one's hatred that is deeply upsetting. These two [incidents] are particular upsetting because they occurred both this weekend in two neighboring communities. They were both violent not just verbal attacks.

To anyone who thinks they are going to walk around the city and attack gay people and get away with it you have another thing coming. The police department and the government of New York take these crimes very seriously and they will apprehend you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law."

We're glad to see so much support out there, but it's just awful that these incidents have to take place at all!

But now, that's all about to change, at least according to TMZ! That's because a week from tomorrow -- on December 17 -- Khloé and Lamar's split will be legal, final, and FULL! And that's all she wrote!

As the final divorce docs are set to be stamped by a judge on that day just over a week from right now, the final terms are pretty standard and straightforward, too: